Is the Netscape 7.2 suite about to be released?

I know that Netscape 7.2 has not been officially released but I performed a Google search to see if any beta version or other information was available on the next member of the Netscape suite.

I came across the following links that look quite official and seems to suggest that Netscape 7.2 is already available for downloading:

1. http://channels-stage.netscape.com/ns/browsers/download.jsp

2. http://channels-stage.netscape.com/ns/browsers/faq.jsp

Note that the first link suggests that you can download Netscape 7.2 but it actually points to a 7.1 directory on the server. Thus something seems more than a little bit fishy.

The second link is a FAQ on Netscape 7.2. It seems legitimate and one of the questions it answers is the following. I registered previously when I downloaded Netscape 7.1. Why am I being asked to register again?
This strongly suggest that Netscape 7.2 should be available although the download link given seems to points to Netscape 7.1 and not Netscape 7.2 as previously mentioned.

Since both of these links appear to be on the netscape.com domain I was wondering if anyone has any information on what is going on. Is Netscape 7.2 about to be released or did I just stumble across meaningless web clutter in my Google search.

I have been using Firefox and Thunderbird as my primary browser and e-mail packages for a while now but I still use the Netscape 7.1 suite quite a bit for updating my work related web site or reading my Netscape webmail account. Thus I am excited about downloading and using the new Netscape 7.2 suite when it is actually officially released.

Thanks!

 

Hi J R W,

The suspense is killing us all, and there is a lot of speculation on the Netscape Newsgsroups. There is no Release date information currently available. All news releases from AOL spokespersons have mentioned late Summer. However, as you mention, the pages are ready, and the only page that remains to be updated is the Netscape Official FTP download site: ftp://ftp.netscape.com/pub/netscape7/english/

I am checking this site several times a day, as this will be the first place the new release will be seen. Just be patient, as it shouldn't be too much longer.

Ramona

 

Thanks for the link the the server Ramona. I'll start checking often too. Can't wait!

 

Ramona,
I understand that you have split the Mozilla profile folder into one for Mozillas and one for Netscape. http://home.att.net/~cherokee67/ns7separateprofold.html
I had given up on keeping NS7.1 as default, and made Moz1.7.1 default, mainly because one of the Mozillas hijacked the default. Now, Netscape, promptly did to Mozilla. would that splitiing eliminate the hijacking?
I don't even know what is a HexEditor, let alone a favorite one.
I doubt that the Mozilla profile folder has been split for this NS release, although they should have.

 

Westside,

Now that you mention it, I just opened Netscape 7.1, although I have Mozilla 1.7.1 as my default browser. Did a bit of browsing with Netscape 7.1, and closed. Looked in my System Preferences in Mozilla 1.7, and my default settings are still in place? Wow, I'm so thrilled! I wonder if this is an improvvement in Mozilla 1.7, do you think? Normally, NS 7.1 would definitely hijacked the default setting, OR would have asked if I wanted it as my default browser. Before, even saying NO made no difference.

I'm not certain that separating the Profiles in Application Data had anything to do with this, but rather imagine it has more to do with Mozilla...


The physical coding within the XPCOM.DLL file is hexidecimal (I think), which is total Greek to me. However, it also contains the location of the Mozilla folder, which is located in two different instances. That is the only reason you need the hexadecimal editor, i.e., to locate the instances of the word "Mozilla" and change it to whatever you wish to call the separate Netscape folder. The name you replace "Mozilla" with must have ONLY 7 characters, as that is the same amount of characters as contained in "Mozilla ". For example, name it "Netscpe" which is 7 characters.

You must also remember, that each time you update Netscape, if you give it a separate folder, that you must also update the XPCOM.DLL file. Otherwise Netscape will give you a hard time when you start it for the first time. It will be looking for its Profile in the Mozilla folder, rather than the Netscpe folder. If you've looked at the screen shots on the page which I have this guideline, you can see exactly where the change is made: Hack for Separating Netscape/Mozilla Profiles.

It is really a very simple task, altho it may look difficult. Once you have accomplished the hack, you will laugh at yourself for not having done it sooner.

Ramona